Job Hunting for Today’s Libraries in Today’s Job...

Job Hunting for Today’s Libraries in

Today’s Job Market

Sponsored by

LLAMA (Library Leadership and Management Association)

and

the LLAMA Human Resources Section

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00014202


Brian W. Keith

Associate Dean

George A. Smathers Libraries

University of Florida



All of these slides are posted at:





Please provide your feedback on this presentation:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9JN7936


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9JN7936


UF Libraries employment page:

http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/careers.htm




What will we cover?

1. Overall Advice and Background Info

2. Where to Find Job Postings

3. Search Committees and Hiring Authorities

4. Recruitment Process

5. The Job Posting



What will we cover?

6. Your Application

7. Preparation for the Interview

8. The Interview

9. Post-Interview

10. References

11. Closing Thoughts on Improving Your Odds



Disclaimers

Too much to thoroughly cover everything in the time

permitted

-But, links to additional sources are provided throughout



Disclaimers

My examples will be largely drawn from a large

academic library at a large public university

-But, my belief is the examples and advice will translate to

other types of institutions



Disclaimers

There are no “tricks”

-But, knowledge, preparation and technique will

improve your odds



Overall Advice

This market means more deliberate recruiting

• Selecting a candidate to hire

• Distinguishing between minimally, well, very

well, ideally and overly qualified

• Which positions to post

• Many libraries are shrinking



Overall Advice

Determine your salary requirements, and apply

accordingly

•Trailing partner considerations?

•Refer to the ARL Salary Survey or others



Overall Advice

The fewer the

better

The better

the better



Overall Advice

–Develop your message

•How your qualifications (uniquely) match the job

•Why the job makes sense for you

–Deliver your message

•Application materials, interview, reference selection, etc.



Overall Advice

–Do not rely on the search committee to determine the above on their own



Overall Advice

–Take advantage of the unique opportunity

afforded by your cover letter



Overall Advice

–Seek out opportunities now that reflect…

•Engagement

•Enthusiasm, and

•Leadership

…in the field of Librarianship

(NOW!)



Overall Advice

Consider your employment alternatives

Possible references:

www.simmons.edu/gslis/careers/lis.php

www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/careers/librarycareerssite/home.cfm


http://www.simmons.edu/gslis/careers/lis.php

http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/careers/librarycareerssite/home.cfm


Reference

ALCTS e-Forum:

Job Hunting: A Conversation About How To Do It Well (5/4-5/5/11)

Led by

Tiffany Eatman Allen, and Erica Findley

Archive:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/e-

forum/0504job.cfm


http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/e-forum/0504job.cfm




Reference

In the Library with the Lead Pipe

What Not to Do When Applying for Library Jobs (Group post)

http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2009/what-not-to-do-when-applying-for-library-

jobs/

Quintessential Careers

Career Resources Toolkit for Job-Seekers

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_resources.html


http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2009/what-not-to-do-when-applying-for-library-jobs/

















http://www.quintcareers.com/career_resources.html


Reference

First Time on the Market? (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

http://chronicle.com/section/First-Time-on-the-Market-/146/















Reference

ALA JobLIST

Career Development Resources

http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm

San José State University

School of Library & Information Science

http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/career_development/


http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm

http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/career_development/


Reference

“Job Hunting: What Search Committees Want You to Know”

Candice Benjes-Small, Eric Ackermann, and Gene Hyde

Virtual presentation at ACRL 2011 is available at:

http://www.learningtimes.net/acrl/2011/job-hunting-what-search-committees-want-you-to-know/

Conference paper available at:

http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/conferences/confsandpr

econfs/national/2011/papers/job_hunting.pdf



















http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/conferences/confsandpreconfs/national/2011/papers/job_hunting.pdf

http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/conferences/confsandpreconfs/national/2011/papers/job_hunting.pdf


Where do we post?

• Regional/Consortia

• Professional Associations

• Specific Employer’s Website

• Electronic Mailing Lists



Posting Sites

ARL Joblist

http://www.arl.org/resources/careers/positions/index.shtml

ALA Joblist

http://joblist.ala.org/

The Chronicle

http://chronicle.com/jobCategory/Library-information-sciences/58/

LibGig

http://libgig.com

LISJobs.com

http://www.lisjobs.com/














http://libgig.com/

http://libgig.com/

http://libgig.com/





Posting Sites

Lists of posting sites available at:

http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/career_development/jobsearch_resources.htm

http://www.libraryjobpostings.org/

Academic Libraries Recruitment Efficacy and Outcome Study (see venues)

http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/recruitmentstudy






http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/recruitmentstudy


Posting Sites

Tools for managing your search:

Aggregators

for example: www.indeed.com

RSS Feeds

for example: www.LibWorm.com


http://www.indeed.com/

http://www.libworm.com/


What you need to know about search committees

– Selection is weeding out

– Assessing qualifications takes 2 forms

1. Measurement

– Years of experience

– Educational credentials

2. Judgment or inference

– Good colleague?

– Inventive?




They have limited means to learn about you and use those to learn different things

• Documents

– CV or Resume

– Cover Letter

• References

• Interview Sessions

• Presentation (Do not underestimate the importance of this!)

• Your interactions with staff




Members:

They are conscientious

They are likely to be intelligent

They likely have a stake in the position and, therefore, the search

They may not be skilled recruiters…



The Recruitment Process

–Advertise

–Application Period

–Assess Applications

–Telephone Interview(s)

–Reference Checks

–Assess Applicants

–On Site Interviews


–Job Offer(s)




–Advertise

–Application Period

–Assess Applications

–Telephone Interview(s)

–Reference Checks


–On Site Interviews


–Job Offer(s)

You made it this far –

now dig in and invest

more effort




For professional positions:

The typical is 3 – 6 months from application to offer with periods of little or no activity apparent to applicants



The Job Posting

–Read it and assume it was written deliberately by intelligent people with a real stake in finding the right person for this position

–Assess your fit

•Interesting?

•Responsibilities

•Qualifications –Required v. Preferred

•Salary and location

•Deadline



The Job Posting

–Submit all of the required information in the

requested format



The Job Posting

Please:

–Cite works used in developing any essays or

opinion pieces

–Observe word limits and other instructions



The Job Posting

Sample Position Vacancy Announcement



The Job Posting

short ad

v.

full ad

Make sure you have the full advertisement



Your Applicant Submission

•These documents are your representative to the screening committee

•Tailor these documents to information in the posting

–Explicitly state how you’re qualified for THIS job




How is your submission used and how are you

assessed by the Search Committee or Hiring

Authority?

Sample Criteria Chart




•Grammar, punctuation and decorum in all

documents and communication are critical

(Short documents but very time

consuming)

•Aim for succinct

•Enthusiasm preferred




–Cover Letter

•Use correct address information

•Refer to the correct position, including

requisition number, in the subject line




–Cover Letter

•Use the opportunity

•This is your narrative

•This is the ‘mortar’ for your packet

•Can be up to 1 or 1.5 pages




–Cover Letter

•Explain your interest –why this position is a

good move for you

•Clearly connect your qualifications to the

unique job

•why you are a good bet for them and will contribute

•shows thoughtfulness and understanding




–Cover Letter

•Explain your career or personal path




–Cover Letter

•Address

–Significant changes in job types or

institution types

–Breaks in employment

–Frequent or numerous job changes



Your Applicant Submission –Cover Letter

•How have your experiences improved your suitability for this position?

•How have you stayed current?

•How have you credentialed yourself?



Your Applicant Submission –Cover Letter

Relevant experience might come from…

»A different Industry

»A different Professional Level

»While in School

»Through your Professional Service



Cover Letter Links

Making Your Cover Letter Work For You

http://liscareer.com/allenmurray_coverletters.htm

Cover Letters, Resumes, and Interviews, Oh My! http://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/cover-letters-resumes-and-interviews-oh-my/

Avoid These 7 Killer Cover Letter Mistakes

http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/cover-letter-tips/Avoid-7-Killer-Cover-Letter-Mistakes/article.aspx



http://liscareer.com/allenmurray_coverletters.htm

http://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/cover-letters-resumes-and-interviews-oh-my/



































Cover Letter Links

Open Cover Letters

anonymous cover letters from hired librarians & archivists

http://opencoverletters.com/







Curriculum Vitae Resume

Primary

Audience

Academic or professional Business

Covers Complete and detailed list of

employment, education,

trainings, presentations,

publications, professional

memberships, grants and

fellowships, awards, and

honors

Education, employment,

awards, and

accomplishments




Curriculum Vitae Resume

Length Unlimited 1-2 pages

Format List of Lists A list of accomplishments

– including facts, figures,

measurements, etc.



CV and Resume

• Provide links to publications, web content, etc.

• Do not include personal information or photographs

• Use an appropriate font and color



CV and Resume Links

5 Resume Mistakes You’re Making and How to Avoid Them

http://www.careerrocketeer.com/category/resumes

Crafting a Winning Resume

http://liscareer.com/allen_resumes.htm

How to Write a Resume

http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-writing-tips/how-to-write-a-

resume/article.aspx

Writing the Curriculum Vitae

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/641/1/

Sample CV’s

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/cvsamples/Sample_Curriculum_Vitae.htm


http://www.careerrocketeer.com/category/resumes

http://liscareer.com/allen_resumes.htm

http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-writing-tips/how-to-write-a-resume/article.aspx



















http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/641/1/

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/cvsamples/Sample_Curriculum_Vitae.htm


Communication

•Email –Send messages from a suitable address

–Treat this as professional correspondence

•Voicemail Message –Is it suitable for potential employers?



Communication

•Telephone Interviews –Prepare, plan and take advantage of this medium

–Have a beverage

–Do not multitask – no typing clicks



Online Presence and Branding

•Social networking

–Do you control access?

–What do your posts say about you?




•Google and Google Alerts

(http://www.google.com/alerts)


http://www.google.com/alerts



Use this to distinguish yourself…

•Slideshare

•Scribd

•List serves




See:

Social networking with a brain: a critical review of academic sites, Kim Leeder http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2008/social-networking-with-a-brain-a-

critical-review-of-academic-sites/

You: The Online Version, Michael Porter

http://www.libraryman.com/blog/2009/10/02/you-the-online-version/


http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2008/social-networking-with-a-brain-a-critical-review-of-academic-sites/





























Preparation for Interview

•Practice

–Role play with someone

–Practice effectively touting your strengths

– get over being embarrassed

–Practice discussing (and addressing)

your weaknesses




•Practice

–Prepare for common interview questions

(the internet abounds with lists)

-Be able to answer, “Why do you want this job?”




•Practice

–Assess and work on your interview

weaknesses

–Learn as you go on interviews through

self-assessment




For recent MLS graduates, in particular:

• Convey your maturity

• Show your flexibility




If you have another degree type, in particular:

• Convey you get libraries




For changes in library types, in particular:

• Convey you get their type




Learn about the organization (do your homework)

• Key people

• Services and products

• Patron/Student population

• Size

• Structure

• University/Parent Organization

• Peer organizations

• Latest news




Learn about the organization

• Basics of the catalog

• What databases are available




Learn about the position

– What it does

– How it fits into the organization

– Status

• Faculty

• Tenure

– What do those mean?

– Additional expectations for the position

• Scholarship (Publishing)

• Service




Results

• Avoiding embarrassing gaffes

• Making a positive impression




Prepare questions to ask and be ready to interject them to relevant folks throughout the interviews

– Why is this position available?

– Expectations for the position?

from various stakeholders, including supervisor

– Are there opportunities for (advancement) learning and professional growth?




Prepare questions to ask and be ready to interject them to relevant folks throughout the interviews

– Questions for interviewers or others might include:

• What do you like best about the institution?

• What do you like most about your position here?

• What was your background or career path?

• Where did you go to school?

• What are you professional affiliations?




– Do not ask about salary or benefits,

first.




• How will you get around campus, from the airport, etc.?

– Ask if not discussed

• Stake out the location and parking before the day of the interview

• Communicate any special needs




• Learn who you will be meeting with

– Review the itinerary - if not offered, inquire

– Make some assumptions as to why individuals or groups are on the schedule and plan for what they may want to know and what you might learn from them




If there is a presentation, solicit reasonable information or clarification regarding:

Audience -affiliation

-expertise level

Topic

Media



If there is a presentation…

• Put appropriate effort into it

• Cover the topic

• Incorporate relevant information about the institution

• Be prepared for technical glitches



If there is a presentation…

• Practice

• Plan based on time limit and provide for Q&A

• Answer questions

• Involve-Engage audience



The Interview

Appearance

• Fresh and rested

• Alert

• Relax – Your talent got you here

• Listen

• Do not smoke or smell like smoke

• Dress for the position, lean towards conservative



The Interview

Conduct

• Learn people’s names and positions

• Attitude and demeanor are as important as responses to questions



The Interview

Conduct

• Be polite to everyone

• Interested and show it with body language

and feedback to interviewer

– Lean forward

– Maintain eye contact

– Nod your head



The Interview

Conduct

Effective answers to questions

• Be positive about your qualifications

• Describe how your training, knowledge,

and experience relate specifically to this job

• Mitigate weaknesses with your strengths

• Avoid judgmental or negative remarks

about previous employers



The Interview

Conduct

Humor

• Appropriate

• No reference to violence (or bombs or

guns) – at all



The Interview

Conduct

– Don’t talk over people

– Don’t be too serious

– Don’t look at your watch

– Be honest

– Be on guard

– Ask great questions



The Interview

Conduct

• Enjoy yourself, people are going to

be really nice to you



The Interview

Conduct

Meals-

• Purpose?



The Interview

Conduct

Meals-

• Purpose

• More relaxed setting

• Can assess fit, and how well rounded

• Opportunity to observe curiosity about

position, institution or community



The Interview

Conduct

Meals-

• Manners

• Drinking



The Interview

Honestly, but diplomatically,

address issues in your

employment history:

– Gaps

– Demotions

– Terminations



The Interview

For all phases and sessions

– Get across your message

– Do not count on the interviewer to do a great

job



The Interview

For all phases and sessions

– It is better to ask for clarification for a question

or take a moment to think than to give an

irrelevant or unnecessarily incorrect answer

– If you cannot answer specifically, communicate

how you would get that information



The Interview – In Summary

Strive to express these sought after qualities:

– Communications and Interpersonal Skills

– Intelligence and Aptitude

– Enthusiasm and Energy

– Flexibility

– Leadership

– Maturity



The Interview – Links

Interviewing: At a Glance

http://www.crc.ufl.edu/students/studentInterviewGlance.html

25 Weirdest Interview Questions of 2011

http://jobs.st701.com/career-

resources/index.php?c=article&aid=37982&title=25-weirdest-job-

interview-questions-of-2011




http://jobs.st701.com/career-resources/index.php?c=article&aid=37982&title=25-weirdest-job-interview-questions-of-2011


















The Interview – Links

First Impressions, Lasting Impressions: Tips for Job Interviews

http://www.ala.org/cfapps/archive.cfm?path=nmrt/footnotes/interview.html

Interview Checklist

http://www.careeronestop.org/ResumesInterviews/Interviews/Checklist.aspx

Interview Advice

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/resreview/interview.

cfm


http://www.ala.org/cfapps/archive.cfm?path=nmrt/footnotes/interview.html

http://www.careeronestop.org/ResumesInterviews/Interviews/Checklist.aspx

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/resreview/interview.cfm

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/resreview/interview.cfm


After the interview

Follow up?

• Maybe…

• Definitely if you need to clarify or address an

issue

• What about inquiring after and unsuccessful

interview?



After the interview

In anticipation of an offer, consider

• Do you want the job?

• How much would you need to be paid?

• Partner/Family considerations?



After the interview


• How will you negotiate your salary?

Reference:

-Qualifications from advertisement

-Salary surveys



After the interview


• When could you report for work if offered? – Notice to current employer

– Completion of school

– Move and other personal arrangements

• What other information do you need: – Benefits

– Relocation assistance, if relevant

– Trailing partner assistance



References

• Select according to what the search committee is looking for

• Cultivate them

-Work

-School

-Professional Service

• Coach them

– Provide a current resume for their reference

– Share your cover letter and job posting

– Tell them why you picked them – what they might speak to



References

Current Employers

• It is fine to request that your current employer not be contacted unless you are a serious candidate and/or with advanced notice to you

• Most employers are going to understand and support advancement



Credential yourself now

Seek: – Training

– Leadership and professional service opportunities

In order to: – Build competencies

– Prepare for the next job

– Keep yourself relevant

– Demonstrate interest

– Demonstrate aptitude and ability – Network




Examples:

1. Lead a student group

2. Convert papers or blogs into scholarship

3. Attend professional meetings or discussion groups

4. Attend state, regional or national conferences

5. Join a professional association (like LLAMA)



LLAMA Information

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/llama/about/index.cfm

Student membership is only $15 (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/llama/about/join.cfm)


http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/llama/about/index.cfm

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/llama/about/join.cfm



Incorporate these experiences and

accomplishments into your

application materials and interviews

Use these to distinguish yourself



One last piece of advice for interviewing:

get sleep

eat lunch

drink coffee



Thank You and Best of Luck!

Brian W. Keith

Check out the UF Library Employment website:





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